Sorcery

Sorcery is the ninth album from Jim Jupp, aka Belbury Poly, shaped by his love of early to mid-80s electronic music and the sci-fi and fantasy worlds it soundtracked in childhood. It’s moody, melodramatic electronica in bright, evocative 80s colours, with those classic Belbury Poly earworm melodies and a sly sense of humour.

Jupp built the record around a palette drawn from that pivotal moment around 1983, when digital studio tech began overtaking analogue. Think Prophet 5, DX7 and PPG synthesizers, Fairlight and Synclavier music computers, TR808, Simmons drums and, yes, fretless bass.

That same era also fed a golden age for fantasy, sci-fi, comics, books, TV, films and games, especially in Britain. For Jupp, it all connects to Bill Nelson, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Japan, Frank Chickens, Elizabeth Parker, Paddy Kingsland, The Parry Music Library, Rod Argent and Clannad’s Robin of Sherwood score.